Chely Wright Wedding Will Affect Her Career, But Who Cares

The only openly gay country singer, Chely Wright, and her girlfriend, Lauren Blitzer, tied the knot Saturday at the Connecticut home of Blitzer's aunt just 15 months after Wright came out. The ladies met while they were both working as advocates for LGBT youth. Blitzer is the successful author of the relationship book for lesbians, Same Sex in the City.

Although the couple received an enormous outpouring of support (check out Chely's Twitter to see all the heart-warming well-wishes), not everyone is thrilled about the country singer's wedding. Particularly the country music community.

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After Wright made the announcement that she was gay in May 2010, her record sales immediately began to suffer. According to an article in the Tennessean, Wright's sales plummeted a whopping two-thirds, and they noted that her music had shifted from country to Americana.(The article also mentioned how she received death threats and hate mail, as well, but that's a whole 'nother post.)

The thing that I don't understand -- the thing I find so ... hilarious, actually, is the fact that the country music community, fine folk that they are (and that's not sarcasm), openly supports and encourages things like alcoholism. So ... being gay isn't okay, but being a drunk is?

Country singers -- and musicians of every genre -- have a long history with the sauce. Hell, most tours are actually sponsored by liquor. Wright's last tour was endorsed by Crown Royal. And sales never seem to drop when the singer or members of the band have a well-known drinking problem. Chely says it best:

[Country music] would rather you were a drug addict than be gay. They will forgive you if you beat your wife, lose your kids to state, get six divorces, make a sex tape, get labeled as a tramp — any and all of it is better than being gay.

How's that for a crazy, warped message?

You know what I say, Chely? Screw 'em! You and your beautiful bride couldn't look happier or more in love on your wedding day. And I'd take that over money any day of the week. Congratulations, ladies!